Xbox Live Arcade sales grow 41% in March
Overall 2010 sales up 5% as monthly revenues top $10 million for the first time
March 2010 sales on Xbox Live Arcade were the best on record, with a rise of 41 per cent on the same time in 2009, according to figures from market research firm FADE (Forecasting and Analyzing Digital Entertainment).
For the first time ever revenues in March topped $10 million (£6.5m) at an estimated $10.6 million. By comparison though sales in January and February were disappointing, with the latter estimated at just $6.8 million (£4.4m).
Overall this means that sales in 2010 have so far grown by only 5 per cent, on 2009's revenues.
The boost in March was attributed to the Block Party promotion, which highlighted the games Toy Soldiers, Perfect Dark, Scrap Metal and the free-to-download Game Room in a similar manner to the now traditional Summer of Arcade event.
Aided by the fact that it was the first game released, Toy Soldiers was the biggest seller of the month with an estimated 209,000 downloads resulting in $3.14 million (£2.0m) in revenues.
Nintendo 64 remake Perfect Dark was second with 161,000 downloads and revenues of $1.61 million (£1.0m). The less critically-acclaimed Scrap Metal saw 18,000 downloads and $270,000 (£176K) in revenues.
The most successful game of the month not featured as part of the Block Party promotion was Trials HD, first released in August 2009. FADE estimates that the game has now exceeded lifetime revenues of over $10 million (£6.5m).
FADE top 10 estimated Xbox Live Arcade games for March 2010, by revenue:
- Toy Soliders - 209,000 units ($3.14m)
- Perfect Dark - 161,000 units ($1.61m)
- Trials HD - 53,000 units ($0.80m)
- Battlefield 1943 - 37,000 units ($0.56m)
- Castle Crashers - 34,000 units ($0.51m)
- Hasbro Family Game Night - 32,000 units ($0.32m)
- Scrap Metal - 18,000 units ($0.27m)
- Marvel vs. Capcom - 25,000 units ($0.25m)
- Shadow Complex - 13,000 units ($0.20m)
- Magic: The Gathering - 16,000 units ($0.16m)
I feel a bit sorry for Ken Lobb now...
Perfect Dark came out two weeks after Toy Soldiers in the Block Party promotion, so it is not surprising to see Toy Soldiers on top: PD only had two weeks on sale compared to Toy Soldiers' four.
Finally, remember these are only estimated numbers.
Only downside of the game is the lack of public map sharing. None of my xbox friends have maps I can download from.
Trials HD and Battlefield are both still doing very impressive business. I'm pleased about that.
It's a very good time for downloadable games - those two really raised the bar in terms of quality and value for money. Shadow Complex, too, is incredibly polished.
With Hydrophobia on the way I think I need to buy some more points...
...only question now is when can we stop using toy money?!